Hajj and the risk of influenza

doi:10.1136/bmj.39052.628958.BE

BMJ 2006;333:1182-1183 (9 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39052.628958.BE

Editorials

Hajj and the risk of influenza

The threat can no longer be ignored

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

At the end of next month Saudi Arabia will againhost the Hajj—the largest annual gathering in the world—whichattracts more than two million pilgrims from almost every countryon earth.¹ ² For the individual pilgrim thisis a deeply spiritual journey that represents the culminationof months if not years of preparation. From a public healthperspective, however, such a gathering makes the possible rampantspread of the influenza virus and a global pandemic—whichmany experts believe is overdue—a potentially devastatingprospect that has been inadequately prepared for.³

Recent work highlighting the high rates of infectionand carriage of influenza virus in pilgrims returning from Meccahas emphasised the need for internationally agreed strategiesto minimise the risk of a pandemic.⁴ ⁵ ⁶ Such a strategy should centre on ways to preventtransmission, but must also include facilities for prompt diagnosisand treatment of infected individuals. No such comprehensivestrategy currently exists.

. . . [Full text of this article]

A Rashid Gatrad, consultant paediatrician¹, Shuja Shafi, consultant microbiologist², Ziad A Memish, consultant in infectious diseases³, Aziz Sheikh, professor of primary care research and development⁴

¹ Manor Hospital, Walsall WS2 2PS, ² Clinical Microbiology and Health Protection Agency Collaborating Laboratory, Northwick Park Hospital, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, ³ Gulf Cooperation Council States Centre for Infection Control, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, Riyadh 11426, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ⁴ Allergy and Respiratory Research Group, Division of Community Health Sciences, GP Section, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9DX

aziz.sheikh@ed.ac.uk

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